Short hops and hard knocks with Red Sox beat writer Ian Browne.

The venerable All-Star

I’m sure Jason Bay, Dustin Pedroia, Josh Beckett, Kevin Youkilis and Jonathan Papelbon don’t mind that they are going to be overshadowed by the team’s sixth All-Star today. This is Tim Wakefield’s day.

At 42 years old, after 188 wins, 2,904 2/3 innings, 1,960 strikeouts and countless anemic swings taken at his knuckler, Wakefield is finally an All-Star.

How rare is this? Wakefield is the oldest pitcher to become an All-Star for the first time since Satchel Paige at 46 years old in 1952. Jamie Moyer (40 in 2003), Connie Marrero (40 in 1951) are the only other first-time All-Stars to be 40 or older. And captain Carl Yastrzemski is the only other Red Sox player to appear in an All-Star Game at 42 or older, doing it in 1982 and 1983.

It was definitely a nice moment for Wake when they announced the first five All-Stars before the top of the third inning, and then finished with Wakefield. The crowd game him a huge hand and Wakefield acknowledged the gesture with a wave of his hand.

I’m happy for Wakefield for making the All Star team but when it comes to the All Star game….I really don’t care! I’ll watch 2 or 3 innings. I haven’t watched an All Star game from start to finish in years!

I never ever thought I would write this but the Sox are trying to avoid the sweep. WOW!

WOW!!!!!
It takes me 50 years to be called a young snot!!!!!! Certainly I earned it before this!!!!!! So how did Tito do today???? I missed it. He must have made all the right moves if they won because it always his fault when they lose. GOOD JOB TITO!!!!!!! Go Sox!!!!!!

I want to add my voice to all of the others who have said “Congratulations” and “Well Deserved” to Tim Wakefield. He has been a constant on a team which has seen its share of ebbs and flows.

I also want to acknowledge the class of Joe Maddon for picking Wake, making it six Sox going to St. Louis. Certainly, there were other deserving pitchers — Kevin Slowey, Jered Weaver, Kevin Millwood, Bobby Jenks, and the Sox’ own, Manny D. But this was Wake’s time, he deserved it, and hopefully, he and his family will enjoy it immensely!!!!!!!

Hi folks! Ellen and Julia – I’ll be at the game tonight. Third base line seats, had hoped to get a close up of Lowell, but YOUKKKKK will do just fine! I’ll be the one with cotton candy in my hair. I’ll wave to you all! Sooo excited! Stay with us, sunshine, and GO SOX!!! :)

Back to the Ted Williams thread….do you guys remember when they had the 100 greatest living players at Fenway Park during that last All Star game at Fenway? I told my dad when they introduced Ted Williams that he would finally tip his cap. My dad said it would never happen. He tipped his cap that day and my dad actually shed a tear. I bet a lot of guys my dad’s age who never saw him tip his cap were in shock. Like a lot of you I never saw Ted Williams play but I did get to see Yaz play alot….and now my kids ask me about Yaz as they get to see the current crop of Sox stars make their moments in history and set their legacies….Go Sox.

I did see Williams play at the end of his career. I remember my Dad taking me to a ballgame in 1960, during which Williams hit a home rum. I remember it being against the Orioles, but the only home game against the Orioles that Williams hit a home run in that year was his last HR, on September 28th, which was a Wednesday, and we went to ballgames on the week-end. Whoever it was against, it is a memory I have, along with his long-standing and unfriendly relationship with the press.

I also remember the overwhelming press sentiment that the kid with the unpronouncable last name would never be able to fill Williams’ shoes. Oh well, so much for that speculation.

The history of the players who have stood in front of the Green Monster for the Sox has really been quite remarkable. Let’s hope JBay does it for more than 15 months!!!!

Williams had a disdain for both the press and, at times the fans, who relentlessly criticized him. He refused to tip his cap for those, as well as probably many other reasons- including attacks on his family life- anything that would goad him- and it didn’t take much. He often said that, when he hit a HR, that it is what he is paid for. If I recall when he hit his last HR that he took off his cap and waived it to the fans- technically not tipping it.

Dben,
I take it you are back in the golfing mode now that the winter has passed. A group of us are headed up to St George, Utah for our annual golfing trip this Thursday- Sunday. It’s a combination of golf and survival. My day at Pebble Beach was a memorable one in March!!!!!!!
– Craig

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